His America's Research Group (ARG) found just 5.8% of the population visited a Christian bookstore in a survey for its bimonthly Consumer Mind Reader report for March. That was slightly down on the figure for January, and compared to 7.6% for the same period last year.

Meanwhile, March per capita spending at Christian stores was $2.61, compared to $4.58 in January and $3.35 in March 2008.

The ARG reports track the performance of 26 retail categories based on surveys of 1,000 of the general population. The biggest March slump recorded was for jewelry stores, which saw 0.5% of the population, down from 8.1% a year ago. Per capita spending there was $1.09, down from $24.32 in the same period of 2008.

Beemer is the author of two major Christian retail studies commissioned by CBA.

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